As you know, Tenaska presented modified plans due to the wetlands during the Covington City Council meeting.

The wetlands report shows that approximately 50 percent of the 14.1 acre project site is unbuildable as it contains Class III and IV wetlands- see pic.

Will King County ignore this and give them a variance to the critical area protections?

Will it come down to money rather than ecology?

The county can approve the project by requesting that the developer provide compensation to a mitigation bank. A fund used to build wetlands in other places!

Seriously, there is a fund for large corporations to pay money into to "pay-to-play" so they can easily destroy wetlands and do whatever they want... Here's the link to their mitigation options:
https://ecology.wa.gov/Water-Shorelines/Wetlands/Mitigation

And the link on how to pay to play:
https://www.nws.usace.army.mil/Portals/27/docs/regulatory2/Mitigation/ILFUsePlan_Aug2021.pdf?ver=7k5qGHr30SX2qIj2K19Cqg%3d%3d

What will King County do to protect the historic resources?

There is a 1908 Farmhouse associated with finish pioneer Matt Mattson adjacent to the site. The farmhouse was recommended eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. How will King County mitigate impacts to the setting of this historic property?

How is an industrial utility facility an appropriate neighbor?

Counties such as Klickitat and Benton have placed moratoriums on renewables, as the city of Renton has also. Many of the NW tribes are pushing for similar moratoriums on their lands. King County needs to pause and develop regulations for these BESS facilities, especially for those in urban areas.

Why isn't King County doing this?

Feel free to copy the questions/data and email everyone!